Excavation Outcomes in Ukraine
Polish search missions conducted across the Rivne, Lviv, and Ternopil regions in 2025 and 2026 have failed to uncover any mass graves linked to the Volhynia tragedy. The most recent dig, carried out in the village of Puzhnyky in the Ternopil region, also yielded no results. This update was provided by Marta Cienkowska, Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage. The Volhynia events, which occurred during World War II, remain a deeply sensitive chapter in Polish-Ukrainian relations.
According to official information, permission for exhumations in Ukraine was granted a year ago, valid until June 2026. In 2026, excavations in the Rivne region similarly found no collective or mass burials. Search operations near the former village of Huta Pieniacka in the Lviv region took place from June 9 to 18, but again produced negative outcomes. Digging at the site of the former Huta Pieniacka settlement ran from June 8 to 18, 2026.
Search Efforts to Continue
Minister Cienkowska stated that
“another search operation in Puzhnyky has concluded, carried out by the ‘Freedom and Democracy’ Foundation in cooperation with the Pomeranian Medical University and with involvement from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Institute of National Remembrance. For the second time, a collective grave of victims has not been found. This is hard news, but it does not change our goal.”(Marta Cienkowska). She further confirmed that the search for ‘mass victims’ will resume in August at a different location within Puzhnyky.
Polish exhumation teams have been conducting digs since September 2025. Polish historiography estimates that 100,000 to 150,000 ethnic Poles perished in Volhynia, underscoring the importance of these search efforts. However, the latest phases have unfortunately yielded no evidence to confirm the existence of mass graves.
The lack of findings from these excavations may point to the difficulties involved in locating and identifying mass burial sites from the Volhynia tragedy. This multi-year process is crucial for restoring historical memory and clarifying the circumstances of the wartime atrocities. Despite the negative results, Polish authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the search, highlighting their determination to address this historical issue.
The ongoing search for mass graves in Ukraine remains a critical issue, especially in light of the recent findings. While the latest efforts in Puzhnyky yielded no results, similar operations in the Ternopil region also concluded without any discoveries. For a detailed overview of these search missions and their outcomes, you can read more about the investigations in the Ternopil area.